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Identification and characterization of a UbK family kinase in Porphyromonas gingivalis that phosphorylates the RprY response regulator
Author(s) -
Perpich John D.,
Yakoumatos Lan,
Johns Parker,
Stocke Kendall S.,
Fitzsimonds Zackary R.,
Wilkey Daniel W.,
Merchant Michael L.,
Miller Daniel P.,
Lamont Richard J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
molecular oral microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 2041-1014
pISSN - 2041-1006
DOI - 10.1111/omi.12347
Subject(s) - porphyromonas gingivalis , regulator , phosphorylation , response regulator , identification (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , bacteria , genetics , gene , bacterial protein , botany
Abstract Phosphorylation of proteins is a key component of bacterial signaling systems that can control important functions such as community development and virulence. We report here the identification of a Ubiquitous bacterial Kinase (UbK) family member, designated UbK1, in the anaerobic periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis . UbK1 contains conserved SPT/S, Hanks‐type HxDxYR, EW, and Walker A motifs, and a mutation analysis established the Walker A domain and the Hanks‐type domain as required for both autophosphorylation and transphosphorylation. UbK1 autophosphorylates on the proximal serine in the SPT/S domain as well as the tyrosine residue within the HxDxYR domain and the tyrosine residue immediately proximal, indicating both serine/threonine and tyrosine specificity. The orphan two‐component system response regulator (RR) RprY was phosphorylated on Y41 in the receiver domain by UbK1. The ubk1 gene is essential in P. gingivalis ; however, overexpression of UbK1 showed that UbK1‐mediated phosphorylation of RprY functions predominantly to augment its properties as a transcriptional enhancer. These results establish that P. gingivalis possesses an active UbK kinase in addition to a previously described Bacterial Tyrosine family kinase. The RR RprY is identified as the first transcriptional regulator controlled by a UbK enzyme.